Manus Island centre can be expanded, says PNG

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister
Peter O’Neill
says he is willing expand the Manus Island detention centre, or open other facilities, if the Australian government requests it.

As Manus Island edges closer to capacity, Mr O’Neill said the agreement reached with the former Labor government over asylum seekers being processed in PNG could be expanded by the Abbott government.

He said the Manus Island detention centre, which is almost full with 1061 people, was not the only option for housing asylum seekers in PNG.

“The Manus Island detention centre is being rapidly expanded and if needed we will expand it even further, or approve the construction of new detention centres only if so requested by the Australian government," Mr O’Neill told an Australian Institute of Company Directors lunch in Brisbane on Thursday.

“I understand from the Australian government they are willing to have an expansion of up to 3000 people and that is what is happening at present."

Mr O’Neill said an expansion of detention centre facilities would not necessarily be dependent on more money from the Australian government. “We are trying to do as best as possible under very difficult circumstances," he said.

“There is a great number of people voluntarily leaving the centre and going home. We are trying to encourage as many people as possible to take that option.

“This is an ongoing issue. We don’t expect a fast resolution to many of the challenges there."

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The Australian government is spending $600 million over four years as part of the expansion of Manus Island, including $194 million in construction costs in this year alone. PNG has also been promised an extra $400 million in aid over the next four years, according to budget documents.

Immigration Minister
Scott Morrrison
said he was confident of PNG’s ability to process asylum seekers at Manus Island.

The PNG Prime Minister also used his speech to talk up the close economic ties between Australia and its closest neighbours, saying he did not want the relationship between the countries to be defined on asylum-seekers alone.

He said big resources projects, particularly liquified natural gas, would drive the country’s economy over the next few years, boosting gross domestic product to 20 per cent by 2015.

“But the decline in the real value of our currency presents some real ­challenges," he said.

Mr O’Neill acknowledged it was a challenge to tackle corruption in PNG.

He also brushed aside media reports about Australian embassies being used to intercept phone calls and data across Asia.

When asked if he had any concerns about whether any of his ­conversations may have been listened to by spy agencies, he said he had nothing to hide.

“If people want to listen to my ­conversations all they have to do is ask," he said.